Christy

After he’s kicked out of his foster home, 17-year-old Christy (The Young Offender’s Daniel Power) is picked up by his less-than-enthused half-brother Shane (Diarmaid Noyes) and taken to stay with him and his wife (Emma Willis) at their home in Cork’s deprived Knocknaheeny neighbourhood. Weeks away from his 18^th birthday, the teenager finds himself torn between reconnecting with parts of his past and finding his own place within the close-knit community. Director and co-writer Brendan Canty weaves an infectious Irish charm throughout his stunning feature debut as he celebrates the small moments of compassion, which unite the characters.

Despite Christy’s short temper and violent tendencies, moments where his hands tremble uncontrollably as he anxiously chews on his chain, reveal the character’s vulnerable side. Scenes in which he keeps a homeless woman (Alison Oliver) company until she falls asleep one night or helps some local kids take some wood for a bonfire that they’re planning to build likewise showcase his gentler traits. The film is at its best during these small interactions. Not only are they testament to Power’s acting chops, but they’re each filled with so much heart and personality that it’s impossible not to instantly warm to these characters, with Jamie Ford as a youngster nicknamed Robot being one of this movie’s most delightful inclusions.

Although this film is structured as a slice-of-life drama, there is a loose plot revolving around unanswered questions from Christy’s past. Namely, what happened to his mother and why he was removed from his cousin’s house as a child. Canty keeps these discoveries mostly unspoken, instead inferring them in passing through dialogue. There’s no grand dramatic payoff by design, and Christy is all the better for it. However, the script does leave some plotlines hanging by the time the flick reaches its conclusion. While this isn’t enough to spoil the heartfelt final moments, the lack of closure with some of the characters makes Christy’s journey feel incomplete.

Canty has created something wonderful for his feature debut. Christy is an uplifting portrait of community through the lens of a teenager searching for his place within it. Its plot may not be revelatory for the genre, but Power’s magnificent performance lends authenticity and tenderness to every scene.

Andrew Murray

Christy does not have a release date yet.

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